I am but a humble traveler, blessed beyond what I could ever ask for.

All posts filed under: USA

Darkness abound, and we look for light. We look for illumination that will save us from the nothingness seeming to persevere, taking over all beauty. Why don’t we know—that light is everywhere, and, the brightest of all, is within us all along. Image and video taken at the Poconos Lantern Fest. I was in awe when the lanterns finally started lighting up the sky like stars. Sadly, the event was disorganized and I’d recommend going to a different one if you could find a similar festival. It was still however a beautiful night, the feeling of wonder as each flicker of light illuminated the darkness like constellations, is one I’ll always remember. Advertisements

Lest we forget that walls, by their very definition, divide, separate, form barriers — should we have to reexamine what these truly mean, not in the surface, we might very well find that it’s not what we want for humanity. In the words of Winston Churchill, “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Pictured: a section of the Berlin Wall in Newseum, Washington DC. Unlike most museums I’ve visited, Newseum made me an emotional mess. The Pulitzer section was a reminder that every generation had their share of disasters and moments that define them, whether it be times of unimaginable sorrow or unmatched glee — the human condition showcased in a timeline of unforgettable images. Times that are forever etched in history, and our collective hearts and psyche, vividly displayed in headlines, pictures and made even more real by interviews of those who lived them. The 9/11 wing must have been the hardest to peruse, with a piece of the building at the center of the space, a very real …

Many a time I’ve come across larger than life sights in my travels — ones that cannot be given justice by words, pictures, nor moving images. You have to be there to fully live the experience. ICE! Christmas Around the World at Baltimore’s Marriott Gaylord Resort (I am still catching up on posting 2016 travels) was one of these. The ice sculptures, colorful ones and clear ones, towered over those who came to see them. Meticulously designed and curved, each sculpture was a work of art. Had I only seen them in pictures, I would not have known they were made of ice. My fiancé and I went with our friends, who had their kids with us, making the trip even more fun. We were all given blue parkas to wear over our winter coats, as the temperature inside the venue was definitely below freezing. It was so cold, the 30 degree outside felt like summer in comparison. The sculptures were a representation of Christmas celebrations around the globe. Some of the displays that were …

If there’s ever a clichéd metaphor for life, it must be this. That no matter how gloomy, cold or dark a day may seem, the sun is there, a constant presence, waiting for its time to shine. For there is this thing called not-quite-yet — that something ever burning, so very bright, awaits its turn in this grand design of an awe-inspiring universe. If there’s ever a clichéd metaphor for life, it must be this. But we all need a reminder sometimes. Photo taken during a winter walk in Wawayanda State Park, NJ. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and would like a simple walk, with its hiking trails even including 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

I want to remember. Long after I am no longer capable of forming coherent words, or thoughts that warrant two seconds of time, I want to remember moments when I felt and truly understood — that there really are things more to life that give meaning to mere existence yet at the same time we only have the capacity to comprehend when we let ourselves just be. I want to remember, that there is beauty, and simplicity, and meaning all coexisting in the same plane. I want to remember. Photos taken earlier in the year at Horseshoe Bend, Arizona. There is a little bit of a walk so be ready to do a short hike, especially if you’re visiting in the summer and you may want to bring water with you. The sight you’ll be rewarded with would be worth it, though. We visited in October so the weather was nice and it was not too crowded.

If one has to look down to admire Bryce, the massive rock formations in Zion would have you gazing up in awe at its grandeur, magnificence, vastness and scale. Driving up to Zion was, just like most of Utah-Arizona-New-Mexico trip, driving up to a movie set. Or even a Disney amusement park with its large scale, nature themed rides. It was a perfect day, just enough sun, enough mists above the mountains for them to be picturesque, disappearing as mid morning crept in. I’d discovered there were two ends to Zion, you can enter one and think you’re seeing these grand, red canyons, then you pass a tunnel and then you’ll see these white, smooth and patterned rocks. We were less lazy that day, too. Driving to different spots, yes, but actually having the chance to hike a little, finally. We weren’t feeling all that well throughout the trip — having pushed to finish deadlines before vacation thereby exhausting ourselves both physically and mentally almost to the point of getting sick. So it was quite …